093_SB1587

 
                                     LRB093 09968 DRJ 10218 b

 1        AN ACT to amend the Illinois Public Aid  Code  by  adding
 2    Section 4-1.6b.

 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section 5.  The Illinois Public Aid Code  is  amended  by
 6    adding Section 4-1.6b as follows:

 7        (305 ILCS 5/4-1.6b new)
 8        Sec. 4-1.6b.  Child Support Pays Program.
 9        (a)  There  is  created  the  Child  Support Pays Program
10    under which the Department shall pay  to  families  receiving
11    cash  assistance under this Article who have earned income an
12    amount equal to whichever of the following  is  greater:  (1)
13    two-thirds  of the current monthly child support collected on
14    behalf of the members of the  assistance  unit;  or  (2)  the
15    amount  of  current monthly child support collected on behalf
16    of the members of the assistance unit required to be paid  to
17    the  family  pursuant  to  administrative  rule.   The  child
18    support  passed  through to a family pursuant to this Section
19    shall not affect the family's eligibility for  assistance  or
20    decrease  any  amount  otherwise payable as assistance to the
21    family under this Article until  the  family's  gross  income
22    from  employment,  non-exempt  unearned income, and the gross
23    current monthly  child  support  collected  on  the  family's
24    behalf  equals  or  exceeds 3 times the payment level for the
25    assistance unit, at which point cash assistance to the family
26    may be terminated.
27        (b)  In consultation  with  the  Child  Support  Advisory
28    Committee,  the Department shall conduct an evaluation of the
29    Child Support  Pays  Program  by  December  31,  2007.    The
30    evaluation shall include but not be limited to:
31             (1)  the  amount  of  child  support  collections on
 
                            -2-      LRB093 09968 DRJ 10218 b
 1        behalf of children of TANF  recipients  who  have  earned
 2        income  compared  with  TANF  recipients  who do not have
 3        earned income;
 4             (2)  the regularity of child support  payments  made
 5        on  behalf of children of TANF recipients who have earned
 6        income, both with  respect  to  newly  established  child
 7        support orders and existing orders; and
 8             (3)  the  number  of  parentage  establishments  for
 9        children of TANF recipients who have earned income.
10    In  order  to  be  able  to  evaluate  the Child Support Pays
11    Program, the Department shall conduct an outreach program  to
12    publicize the availability of the Program to TANF recipients.

13        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
14    becoming law.